The Pre-Law Club hosted a meeting with a special guest speaker, accompanied with pizza and refreshments, at the Phelps & Womack Pre-Law Center.

District Judge Thomas “Tommy” Fowler visited students with and without a pre-law emphasis to share personal and professional insights, offering an opportunity for undergraduate students to learn more about the field of law. 

Fowler lectured in depth about being a member of the judiciary, the important roles of prosecutor and attorney in the courtroom, AI use and concerns in the courtroom and his upbringing from practicing law as a prosecutor to being a Craighead County district judge.

“A lot of pre-law students have their minds set on becoming attorneys, which is great. But we want to show them other ways to serve their community, like becoming a judge,” president of the club, Levi Seward, said. “Exposing them to those opportunities is important.” 

Seward, a junior political science major from Manila, Arkansas, said his recent interaction with Fowler at the Craighead County Bar Association meeting gave him the idea to invite him, again, to speak to the Pre-Law Club.

Fowler visited the students last year and was considered a fan favorite amongst the group. 

“It’s just good to have his face back here because he’s very engaging with the students, and they like having him,” Seward said.

Jada Sumpter, a sophomore political science major from Helena, Arkansas, is the club’s vice president. She said the club tries their best to bring guest speakers as often as possible.

“It gives students insight into what their life could be like if they follow through with law school,” Sumpter said. 

The club aims to encourage their members to focus on other practices of law, such as paralegals and court reporters. Sumpter said law school doesn’t always work out, so having alternative options to follow is important.

“You don’t have to be anybody special to make a difference,” Sumpter said. “You can be somebody from right here in Arkansas, in Jonesboro, at A-State and go on to do something great to help others.”

Fowler spent most of his time answering questions on topics varying from personal and memorable cases of his, how to survive and draw connections in the judiciary field and general helpful tips for law school.

Taylor McIntyre, a senior political science major from Beebe, Arkansas, was a student who attended the meeting. Although she is not an active member of the club, she wanted to meet Fowler.

“This was my first time meeting Judge Fowler and it was really eye-opening,” McIntyre said. “He was funny, he kept the stories going and answered all of our questions, which I appreciated.”

She said some figures of power from the community viewed undergraduates as “not worth their time,” but found it refreshing that Fowler wasn’t like them.

“He quite literally said ‘my time is valuable, but so is yours,’ which is why he kind of made that point of ‘when you’re in my court, you are on time,’” McIntyre said. “So that was something that was really interesting.” 

McIntyre said her preferred practice of law is divorce and child custody law. 

She said Fowler helped her put the emotional challenges of this practice into perspective, especially the difficult circumstances that can arise in court involving children. 

“I want to go into that sector of law because of my background and what I’ve gone through in my life – I know it’s going to be difficult and I know it’s going to be challenging,” McIntyre said. “He centered the emotional challenges it comes with but it’s not something that’s deterring me from going into it.”

The Pre-Law Club hosts school trips, panels, guest speakers, helps students with building their resumes, interview techniques and provides free LSAT materials for every student. 

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